---
title: "Draw your signature on your phone with a QR code"
description: "No touchscreen? Scan a QR code, or get a text or email link, and draw your signature with your finger on your phone. It appears on your computer in seconds."
url: https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/sign-with-phone-qr-code/
collection: "eSignatures"
section: "Signing yourself"
updated: 2026-10-18
publisher: "PDFBetter (AI Generated Inc.)"
---

# Draw your signature on your phone with a QR code

> In the signature dialog, choose **Add via QR code** and scan the code with your phone's camera. Draw with your finger, tap **Use this signature**, and it appears on your computer; check it and click **Save and sign**. The link works once, for 10 minutes.

Drawing a signature with a trackpad or mouse rarely looks right. Your phone's touchscreen does better, and you don't need the PDFBetter app or to sign in on the phone.

1. **Open the signature dialog**: In the editor, choose **Sign** → **Add signature** (or **Add initials**).
2. **Pick your phone**: Under **Or add it another way**, choose **Add via QR code**. A QR code appears with **Waiting for your phone · expires in** and a countdown.
3. **Scan and draw**: Point your phone's camera at the code and open the link. Draw in the **Sign here** box with your finger; turning the phone sideways gives you more room. Pick a **Pen color**, and use **Undo** or **Clear** to redo it.
4. **Send it back**: Tap **Use this signature**. The phone says **Return to your computer**.
5. **Check and place it**: On your computer you'll see **Received from your phone. Check it, then press Save and sign.** Click **Save and sign**, then click where the signature goes.

## Text message or email instead of a QR code

If you can't scan a code, choose **Add via text message** or **Add via email**, enter **Your mobile number** or **Your email address** and click **Send link**. Open the message on your phone and draw as above. Both need a free account, and standard message rates may apply. Text messages go to US and Canadian numbers. **Add via text message** only appears where texting is set up; when it isn't offered, use the QR code or email.

## Good to know

- Each link works once and expires after 10 minutes. If it runs out, the dialog shows **The link expired or was cancelled.**; click **Start again** for a new one.
- Closing the dialog or choosing another method cancels the link. A phone that opens it then sees **Canceled**.
- With an account, tick **Save for next time** before **Save and sign** to keep the signature for later ([manage saved signatures](https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/manage-saved-signatures/)).
- If you got an email titled **Draw your signature** that you didn't ask for, ignore it. The link does nothing unless someone is waiting for it on their computer.

### The phone says “This link expired”.

Links last 10 minutes. On your computer, click **Start again** and scan the new code.

### Does my phone need the PDFBetter app?

No. The link opens in the phone's browser. The [iPhone app](https://help.pdfbetter.com/apps/iphone-ipad-app/) is for working on documents on the phone itself.

## Related articles

- [Sign a PDF yourself](https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/sign-pdf-yourself.md): Open the PDF, choose Sign → Add signature, create your signature (type, draw or upload) and select Save and sign, then click where it goes. Download with Done → Download. This adds a visual signature; to collect other people's signatures with evidence, request signatures instead.
- [Save, reuse and delete your signatures and initials](https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/manage-saved-signatures.md): Tick Save for next time when you create a signature, or add one in Settings → Profile & signatures → Saved signatures. Reuse it from Sign → Saved signatures in the editor. Saved signatures need a free account.
- [Quick start: fill and sign your first PDF in 5 minutes](https://help.pdfbetter.com/getting-started/quick-start-fill-and-sign-pdf.md): Open the PDF, click each field and type (Tab moves to the next), click Sign → Add signature, place it, then Done → Download. Without an account you can do everything except the download, which asks you to create a free account first.
- [Someone sent you a PDFBetter link: what it is and what to do](https://help.pdfbetter.com/getting-started/got-a-link-from-pdfbetter.md): PDFBetter is the tool the sender used. You don't need an account, an app or a payment to sign, fill or view what they sent. Look at the email or link to see which kind it is, then follow the matching article below.

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Source: https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/sign-with-phone-qr-code/ · PDFBetter Help Center · Last checked against the product 2026-10-18. Questions: support@pdfbetter.com